Director, Digital Process Control Solutions

Job Description

General Summary:

Vertex is a global biotechnology company that invests in scientific innovation. The Digital, Technology and Engineering (DTE) team powering Research Technology & Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing have a core mission to improve the lives of patients through digital, data, and technology innovation.

Vertex is accelerating our capabilities, technology and data to augment our manufacturing and supply mission and enable Vertex to grow in scale; ensuring we remain on the forefront of science, medicine and technology. 

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Director, Digital Process Control Solutions to join our team and drive our digital evolution initiatives.

The Director, Digital Process Control Solutions is a pivotal role that will lead the development, implementation, and optimization of data consumption solutions that enable modelling, prediction and digital process control systems, ensuring alignment with Vertex's strategic goals and enhancing product development and manufacturing efficiency and quality. This position requires a visionary leader who can leverage fast paced technology innovation to support Vertex's commitment to innovation across a broad multi-modality medicine portfolio currently including small molecule, cell therapy and gene therapies, a global CMC scientific team and a broad internal and external manufacturing network.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Vision and Strategy

• Develop and execute the data and technology strategy for digital manufacturing process control, ensuring alignment with business, regulatory, and operational objectives.
• Develop and align the strategic vision for digital manufacturing process control, aligning with the overall goals the broader goals of the Data, Technology, and Engineering group.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure the digital manufacturing process control data and technology strategy supports broader organizational objectives and regulatory requirements.

Operational Execution

• Oversee the implementation and management of data and technology solutions that enable digital process control in a focused internal and highly externalized manufacturing environment including digital twins, digital control and simulation services to real-time monitor and control the most effective manufacturing of innovative medicines.
• Deliver a data first strategy with a focus on capturing and flowing insights in process control to optimize future medicines earlier in CMC stages of development, including prediction and digital design of route optimization, form and the design of control strategies and critical process parameters.
• Collaborate with IT and OT teams to integrate control engineering technologies into manufacturing operations.
• Collaborate with IT, data science and scientific teams to deliver upstream solutions that predict first.
• Ensure data and technology solutions are developed on time, within budget, and to the required quality standards.
• Ensure relevant adoption of cloud-based solutions, IoT-enabled manufacturing, and automation technologies improve efficiency, scalability, and cost-effectiveness.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, including GAMP, GXP, by implementing secure, validated digital systems.
• Monitor and manage performance metrics to track the performance and effectiveness of digital process control systems.

Leadership

• Lead a high-performing, diverse team of professionals, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and accountability.
• Create a culture of inclusion, diversity, and equity where everyone can do their best work and feels valued.
• Communicate effectively with senior leadership and stakeholders to align on strategic priorities, project progress, and the impact of data initiatives.
• Represent the RDMS in cross-functional meetings and initiatives, advocating for data-driven approaches and ensuring alignment with broader organizational goals.
• Align automation portfolio & vision to the business strategy (Governance & Roadmap). Partner with business stakeholders across the enterprise in order to manage and prioritize demand.
• Continually build the future digital automation roadmap to have an ongoing, significant impact towards meeting strategic business goals
• Present ideas and forward-looking plans to, and engage directly with, cross-functional senior leaders on regular basis
• Deploy a multi-disciplinary approach to solving business challenges and unlocking new streams of business value through digital automation projects
• Lead full project lifecycle from intake through deployment, as well as communication, change management and team mobili